Full Term Update

I am now officially full term, and if the baby should decide to come today, my midwives would not try to stop labor and the baby would not be considered early. Praise the Lord!!

Technically, my due date is not until the 20th of March...and... both Adah and Elijah were 10 days late. So I am struggling to be realistic about how much longer we have until we meet this baby. It could be any day, could be 4 weeks from now!

But, you know what? I feel pretty good. I struggle with keeping worry and fear at bay, due to the recent loss in our family. I am uncomfortable. Its to be expected. But overall, I am just so grateful for this baby and for a very healthy pregnancy. I guess I will wait and try to enjoy the wait, too. What other choice do I have?!

Meanwhile, here are few pictures from the last few days.

The first set is from my laundry room midway through becoming, not just a laundry room, but a laundry room/ art studio. Its done now; complete with a desk, sewing table, shelves and organization. I am happy to say that today I did some "therapeutic painting" surrounding my hopes and fears concerning labor and delivery. It was a great feeling to sit down at my very own art desk, with all of my supplies easily at hand, and let something hidden come out. I would share what I created, but it is a bit too personal for this venue at this time:). With any good luck, I will be sharing some art in the coming months as I continue to explore my new space.

 Yes, that's my belly in the foreground.

^

We have one of Elijah ruling the roost in the fabulous backyard playhouse:

Next, a picture requested by Elijah, complete with Adah examining her hair beads mid-shot:

Yesterday, Gabe and Elijah built a little bird house. This morning, Adah and Elijah had a lot fun painting it:

Just to show you how modest I can pretend to be, and not at all vain... Hah! I am going to post a picture taken by Elijah while I was hanging the bird house. Its shot from a vvveeeerrry flattering upward angle, accentuating my rotund figure. And, I have a super- charming look on my face. The look, to me, says: "I've eaten 4 blueberry muffins today and I am exhausted from waddling out to the front yard." Which, by the way, was true. I post it as evidence of my full-term-ness.

 

Okay, to erase that image from your mind, I now present you with the proud birders posing with their creation: 

 

And now a close up...

Finally, Gabe found a great used woodstove insert on Craigslist and installed it himself, saving us $2500, the cost difference of buying a new stove and having it professionally installed. We bought this hoping to offset our $500/ month heating oil bill. I post these pictures as proof to naysayers (you know who you are:) that we made a good choice going the 'used-self install-money saving' route and that we aren't going to burn the house down. The house is nice and warm, just in time for spring:)!

You probably won't hear from me here until after the baby is born. But, I will post pictures and details when the time comes! Pray for us!

Love,

Liz

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! We are so thankful to be together on this peaceful snowy day (5 inches, so far!); the first Christmas in our new house. Thank you for praying for us over the last few months. We moved into our new home just after Thanksgiving. The last few weeks have been very full with moving, unpacking, getting settled in, then each of us fell very sick, too.

In the midst of all of this, we also experienced a great tragedy in our extended family. This, in addition to deep sadness and grief, caused us to pull closer to one another, in gratitude for children and family and "every good and perfect gift from above" (James 1:17). With all this going on, I have had much to say, but have been too overwhelmed to bring it to this space. I hope to be back here more in the coming new year.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and very blessed and sacred day together; full of remembrance and awe for the greatest gift ever given- "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6) May you all truly know the love of Jesus today and always.

Hilton Head Island, SC

Vacation 2010: 

Resting, Sunning, Swimming, Biking, Hiking, Sanding, Kite Flying, Nature Watching, Recovering, Forgetting, Remembering.

Awards Ceremony

Today we attended the Asheville Chamber of Commerce Awards luncheon where Rezaz and Piazza Restaurants ( Gabe's employer for the last 8 years) won the Over-the-Top Excellence in Service Award.  It was quite an honor to be chosen. The awards are given to businesses of all sizes and sorts in Asheville and this year Rezaz/ Piazza was the only restaurant honored. I know I am a bit biased, but I'd like to think that the excellent, over-the-top service that they were being recognized for was in large part thanks to Gabe, who goes above and beyond day in and out to give every single person who walks in the door at both restaurants the best service and experience they could ever ask for. He is really good at his job!

 In the 6 years that we have been together, this is the first time that I've worn high heels and the last time he wore a dress coat was at our wedding... I thought we deserved a picture.

Also, I am sooooo excited, my good friend Kelcey from Sweet Mess gave birth to a little baby boy, Eliseo, today!!!!!!!! I can't wait to hear all the beautiful details and meet this amazing new member of our world:)  We Love you Kelcey!!

Meet Pepper...

We adopted a kitten. I don't know what we are thinking! It's a terrible way to start off a new pet relationship... wondering why you got the critter. But, really, do I need more to do? I am not the biggest pet person, honestly. I am sucker for helpless creatures, though. Darn that maternal instinct!

Enough of the doubt.. the kids love the little guy. They both are crazy about him, giggling and jockeying to play with him. They are gentle and kind to him, with supervision.

He's a sweet little fuzzball, very relaxed and affectionate. He loves to be held and is not afraid of the children.

Unfortunately, Liberty, our lab, eyes Pepper like a furry little snack strutting around the place. So,um, we need to work on that.

I find it hilarious that Adah and Pepper are amused by the same toys. They both get a tremendous kick out of a feather on a string, shiny little poof balls and anything that jingles or rattles :).


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In other news, I had a professional resume writer create a really great resume for me. The resume makes me look far more qualified than I feel, without being untrue or misleading. That's a good resume, right? Funny thing is...before I even had a chance to use it, I landed a job! More on that later...

*For those of you wondering, I have no intentions of abandoning my family. I will be telecommuting for the job and only after my day with the children is done.:)

First Snowman!

It has been VERY snowy in Asheville this Winter. My Northern friends may scoff-- but for Asheville, we've had several days that brought a little bit of snow. It's really something special in the South. This latest brush with the white stuff was by far the biggest and best (about 4 inches!).

It was enough to build a snowman-finally! Elijah asks to build one every time we get the barest dusting of snow and up until now, it just wasn't possible. Gabe and Elijah built this one as Adah and I snuggled by the fire.

A lazy little post.

A truly random assortment of pictures, just because.

(Adah, adorable, Adah.)
(Elijah paints.)
(Good friend, Kelcey; her daughter, Lilikoi; baby goats and Elijah.)
(A new set of painted people for birthday niece, Alexia.)

A Snow Day with Daddy

Another blizzard here in Asheville. We are up to the roof line with snow... snow forts, giant snowmen, snow shoes, ice skating... yep!

Nope. But we did get about an inch over night. Which for a 2 year, who knows no different, was great! Here are some pictures of Daddy and E. having a "snowball fight" and "sledding".

Getting bundled up.

Teaching Elijah how to make snowballs

Get Mommy!

Daddy hits Elijah with a snowball!

Elijah gets Daddy!

Our attempt at sledding without a sled

Back inside and playing Firemen.